Telltale for tanks



May 25 1926. 1,586,182

. G. E. DEATHERAGE TELLTALE FOR TANKS Filed April 25, 1925 lIIIlIIlIIll/IIIIIIIII III Patented May 25, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT worries.`

GEORGE ELWYN DEATHERAGE, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TLLTALE Fois TANKS.

Application filed April 23, 1925. Serial No. 25,371.

to provide means forv sealing an electricalv signalhng mechanism against the entrance' of gases from the combustible liquids or the combustible liquid itself.

A further object of the invention is to pro- 'vide a device of this character having means for preventing operationof the signal until the proper level of the tank has been reached, particularly where the tank with which the signal is employed is the tank of a vehicle which, during its movement over rough ground, will cause considerable agitation of the contents thereof.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a tank signal constructed in accordance with my invention; and

Figure 2 is a detailed sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1 illustrating diagrammatically the connections of the signal device.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a base adapted to be attached to a tank T at an opening 11 formed therein. This base has secured thereto at its approximate center a post 12, the upper end of which, designated at 13, projects above the upper surface of the base andis provided with means, as at 14, for pivoting thereto a lever 15. This lever and its associated mechanism is enclosed within a housing comprising side walls 16 to which is secured a flange 1'? attached to the'base and an insulating coverv 18 abutting the upper ends of the side walls 16. l

Through the base in alignment with the ends of the lever are formed openings 19 'and 20, the opening 19 being formed in its under surface to provide a valve seat.V Secured to the corresponding ends of the lever 15 is a rod 21 directed through the opening 19 and having at its lower end a pair of nuts 22 mounted thereon and Iadapted to bind one against the other to provide an adjustable stop upon the rod. Adjacent its upper end,

this rod has a valve 23 for coaction with the seat formed at the under surface of the opening 19. Mounted upon the rod 21 between the stop and valve v23 is a float 24, the upper surface of which has vapplied thereto a thin lead sheet 25. Secured to this float is an arm 26, the end .of which is in the. form of a yoke 27 slidably embracing the rod 12.

Secured beneath the opening 20 to the base is a dash pot cylinder 28 which may be ofl any desired construction. The rod 29 of the piston 30 of this cylinder is directed through the opening 20 and isconnected to the corresponding end of the lever 15 by an insulating bar 31. To this bar 31y at the upper end thereof is attached a bridging contact 32 adapted to bridge a pair of contactsl 33 carried by the cover and complete a circuit therebetween. These contactswill be in circuit with a source of current B and a signal S of any suitable-character. The cover also provides means for attaching to the end of the lever 15 to which the rod 21 is connected a spring 34 normally maintaining this endl of the rod in elevation.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Vhen the tank is filled, the' float rises to its highest position and the valve 23 is seated, sealing communication between the compartment formed above the base andthe interior of the tank. Communication at the opening 20 is prevented by the dash pot cylinder and accordingly these openings may be made of suficient size to allow the necessary play compensating'for the movement of the lever 15 and the corresponding play of the rods 29, 21.` The valve 19 will, of course, seat properly when the lever end to which it is attached is in its elevated position. As the float movesV downwardly, the lever will be maintained in its elevated posit-ion and this valve closed until the iioat comes into engagement with the stops 22 with sufficient force to overbalance the spring of the action valve will be very short before operation of the signal and accordingly the chances of liquid or gases entering the compartment is reduced to a minimum. In order to further sistance set up by the dash pot. It will be Aobvious that thel period of opemng of the prevent collection of gases within this compartment, the side Walls 16 or cover 18 are preferably provided with openings 35 through which the gases may escape.

lt Will be obvious that since the openings 19 and 20 may be made suiciently large to admit of movement of the rods working therethrough? there is no necessity for expensive sliding connections between the lever 15 and the rods and accordingly the device may be relatively cheaply produced.

"lt will furthermore be obvious that the conivoted toone end of the lever and pro-` jecting through said opening, said opening being formed at the under surface of the base withl a valve seat, a stop adjustable on said rod, a valve upon the rod adjacent the upper end thereof for coaction with the valve seat, a float operating between the stop and valve, means normally maintaining the valve in engagement with the seat and a Contact carried by the opposite end of the maaien lever for coaction with contacts carried by the Wall ol: the compartment and insulated `from the compartment, andmeans for preventing operation of the lever to cause engagement of the contacts upon momentary engagement of the float with said stop.

2. ln a tank, a base adapted to be attached to a tank at an opening formed therein, a com artment at the upper surface of the base, a ever pivoted Within the compartment, an opening in the base in substantial alignment A`with one end of the lever, a rod pivoted to one end of the lever and projecting through said opening, said opening being formed at the under surface of the base with a valve Seat, a stop adjustable on said rod, a valve upon the rod adjacent the up er end thereof for coaction with the va ve seat, a oat operating between the stop and valve, means normally maintaining the valve in enga ement 'with the seat, and a contact carrle by the opposite end of the lever for coaction with contacts carried by the Wall of the compartment and insulated from the compartment and means for preventing operation of the lever to cause engagement of the contacts upon momentary engagement of the float with said stop, comprising a dash pot arranged beneath the base and having a piston and aconnection between the piston and the lever extending through an opening in the base.

ln testimony whereof l hereunto ax my signature. Y

GEORGE E. DEATHERAGE. 

